A/N: Wow. It has taken me forever to get this chapter out. I just hit a stonewall AND I kept losing the info every time I did get anything down. But here it is (finally). Chapter 6 of Dismembered. A big thanks to everyone who has stuck with this story and patiently waited it out. Please forgive me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. Would I be writing fanfics if I did?

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A gentle breeze filtered through the park as Serena silently waited on her swing. Her stomach seemed to be consumed with nervousness and no amount of shifting would relieve it. Her phone had been put back into her bag and she had since kicked off her heels.

'I can't believe Darien even came after me,' she thought idly. The wind picked her hair up from its position behind her and made it dance. Serena paid it no mind, but the person standing just away did.

Darien felt his breath hitch when he found the object of his search sitting in the park. The sun was highlighting Serena's golden hair as it moved with the breeze, making her skin glow too. He shook his head and approached.

"Serena," he said, taking the other empty swing.

"Darien," she replied, nodding her head once in acknowledgement. They sat in silence for a moment before they broke it.

"I'm sorry for telling you all that,"

"I'm sorry for yelling at you like that,"

Serena was stunned for a moment before breaking out in laughter. Darien found his own laughter hard to suppress. So, for a few moments, the pair simply sat, laughing like there really wasn't some psycho maniac running around killing women.

Serena wiped a stray tear from her cheek as she finally calmed down. Darien too took a moment to calm himself.

"I really am sorry about before though. I had no right to attack you like I did," Darien said finally, breaking the silence that had settled between the two. Serena nodded her head.

"I suppose I can understand what you were talking about. I'm just sort of really wary in situations like that," she replied, her eyes taking on a far off look. Darien watched her as she seemed to think something over before shaking her head and looking back at him. "Would I be able to take tomorrow off?"

Darien was a little surprised at her question and that expression showed on his face. Serena sighed as she noticed it.

"My sister is coming in to town," she said. "I wanted to spend the day with her." Darien wanted to say yes, but he had gotten orders from Seiya that nobody was to take holidays or anything of the sort until these homicides were solved.

"I'm sorry Sere but we can't," he replied, feeling guilt which wasn't an often occurrence for the leader. Serena nodded but he could tell she was upset by his reply.

"Its okay," she replied, putting on a smile. "I'll just have to lock Mina in my apartment so she doesn't get into trouble." With that, the blonde stood from the swing and sighed. "I guess we should be getting back. The guys are probably waiting for us."

Darien nodded absentmindedly, standing as well despite the fact he knew the guys had already gone. In silence, Serena and himself headed back to the diner and climbed into her car, Darien cursing the guys, once again, in his head the whole way back to the building. He hated this damn car!

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Serena and Darien arrived to find Andrew speaking with Jayden. "What's going on?" Serena asked as they approached.

"We managed to get an ID on the second body," Andrew said, handing Darien the file. He flipped through it for a few moments before handing it to Serena. "Michelle Karer, age 25, lives on the east side of town. No husband or fiancée," Andrew said, gesturing to the file in the blonde's hand.

Darien nodded. "Thanks guys," he said and the two other guys nodded before leaving them.

"Apparently she had no family here either," Serena said, reading from the file. Darien nodded.

"Well, we still need to talk to the other woman's husband," he said. "Feel like a drive?" he asked, drawing Serena's gaze.

"Sure," she said, closing the file. She'd never had too much to do with the families of victims before, so it would be quite an experience.

"Alright. Meet me back here in five minutes," Darien replied before heading for his office.

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Serena returned, with about a minute to spare, just as Darien was exiting his office as well, files in hand. Obviously he wanted to go over some things.

"We'll take my car," Darien said, vowing that he was never getting back into hers as long as he lived. He didn't want to spend the whole ride with his knees shoved up his nostrils. Leading Serena down to the garage, he couldn't help but shoot her car a glare as he climbed into his own.

"This government issue?" Serena said sarcastically. No way was the agency going to give him a Ferrari to drive around in. This meant, either he was doing something illegal on the side, or he was loaded. She would bet on the former of the two.

"Ha ha," Darien's reply was just as sarcastic.

"Hey, don't blame me if they don't believe we're cops because of this," Serena countered, tapping the dashboard of the Ferrari with her knuckle. Darien shook his head but he was smiling. She definitely had an interesting sense of humor.

They drove in silence for a few moments before Serena grabbed the file on their latest victim. She read over the contents, her mind comparing it to the previous victim's stats.

'Still nothing,' she thought, baffled. If a connection didn't become apparent soon, her serial killer theory was going to become pointless. Other than the missing body parts, nothing else matched up.

"Anything jump out at you?" Darien asked, his voice snapping Serena from her assessment. She shook her head.

"Not that I can see. I'm starting to wonder if these murders really are connected," she added. Darien knew now would not be a good time to say 'I told you so'. Not to mention he figured Serena would punch him, hard, if he did.

"Well, sometimes the patterns aren't easy to see," he said, deciding to stay on her good side. What she had said before did make some sense. There was still a chance it wasn't a serial killer, but she was right. They shouldn't close off any avenue until they were 100% sure.

Serena nodded but she didn't speak again until he had left the main city and pulled up outside a home in the suburbs. Darien couldn't help but snort.

"Well, would you look at that? White picket fence and all," he said, chuckling. "How much you want to bet she was having an affair? Or the husband was?" he added, rolling his eyes. He didn't have a lot of belief in love. If one couldn't tell.

Serena on the other hand scowled at him. "Must you be so calloused?" she said. "Just because they live in a nice, happy neighborhood, with a white picket fence, doesn't mean their life was so boring that they were having affairs to spice it up. Maybe they actually like it here."

Darien snorted again as he shut off the car and climbed out. "$50 says it's the husband," he said before he turned to face the house and Serena got out. She resisted the urge to hit him. Despite his cynical views, some people were perfectly content with a normal, ordered life.

Walking side by side, the pair approached the house and knocked on the door. When it opened to reveal the man Serena had seen in the photograph with Hamara, she felt her heart sink a little. Now they had to tell him the love of his life was dead. Maybe she wasn't going to find this enriching at all.

Dealing with dead people was one thing. Explaining to their living relatives what had happened was completely different.

"Mr. Shane Bowman?" Darien asked while Serena was lost in her thoughts. The blue haired man nodded.

"Are you here about Hamara?" the man replied and Darien cleared his throat.

"Yes. May we come in?"

Shane nodded and stepped back and Serena and Darien entered the home. It was just as she'd expected it to be. Clean, tidy and perfect.

"Did you find Hamara?" Mr. Bowman's question drew both their attention as they took a seat on the couch.

"Your wife was found dead Mr. Bowman," Darien said. "We're very sorry for your loss."

Serena wanted to leave the room when the husband began to cry. Or at least give him some kind of privacy.

Grief was a horrible thing that she hated seeing. Having experienced it herself, it wasn't an emotion she liked or wanted to go through again.

"We know this is hard for you Mr. Bowman, but we need to ask you some questions about your wife," Darien said, clearing his throat after a few minutes of watching the man grieve. As he composed himself, Shane nodded. "Did Hamara have trouble with anyone at her work that you knew of?"

Shane shook his head. "Everyone loved Hamara. Even the guys. They said they'd never met a girl who could drink like her," he replied, a sad smile stretching across his features as he remembered her. Once again, Serena was hit with a desire to leave him in private with his grief.

"D-Do you know who killed her yet?" Shane asked, his sadness turning to hope almost instantly.

"We are still investigating her death Mr. Bowman," Darien replied, once again clearing his throat. Serena could tell he was just as uncomfortable with this situation as she was. Again the sadness returned to Shane's eyes.

"We are very sorry for your loss sir," Serena said, finally speaking up as she laid a comforting hand on Shane's arm. "I know what its like to lose someone you love," she added, remembering her own parents.

"Boyfriend?" Shane guessed. Even he, who was married and had just lost his wife, could see how attractive the young woman was.

"Parents," Serena corrected, shaking her head a little. "One day they just went out and never came home," she added. Shane nodded in understanding. It had been much the same with Hamara.

Darien got them back on topic with another question.

After a few more questions, and a few more similar answers, Darien and Serena stood to leave the Bowman residence.

"Thank you for your assistance Mr. Bowman," Darien said just before they left.

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Serena and Darien sat in silence as they drove back into the city. Serena could feel the waves of anger coming off Darien, and she was puzzled as to why he would be upset.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked after a while, feeling like she was going to suffocate if she didn't say something.

"'I know what its like to lose someone you love'?" was all Darien replied, his voice harsh and sarcastic. Serena frowned.

"What about it? I do know what its like," she replied, confused as to why he would be upset over that.

"Oh nothing. I just never pegged you for one to flirt with grieving widowers," Darien said, an undercurrent of spite staining his voice.

"What are you on about Shields? I wasn't flirting!" Serena denied vehemently.

"Sure," came his sarcastic reply.

"You know what? You're an asshole," Serena growled. "Really. I was just trying to make him feel better! To show him we understood!"

"Yeah well next time, do your 'picking up' in your own time," Darien snapped in response. Serena huffed angrily and the moment the car pulled into the garage, she got out, slammed his oh so expensive door, and stormed into the office.

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Darien, meanwhile, remained in the car, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel like grim death. How could she do that? How could she so openly flirt with Shane Bowman? He was a victim, and a suspect for gods' sakes! Was she really that desperate?

It had taken every inch of willpower he had not to rip her away from him and drag her out of that house. It had nothing to do with them. It was just the principle of it all. She was a detective investigating the murder of his wife. Not only was it unethical, but it was just plain wrong!

He was going to have to teach that to her, one way or another. With his resolve set, he left and locked his car.

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Serena entered her office, grumbling and spitting like a wet car, but was startled by a voice.

"Let me guess Sere. Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome isn't living up to his name?" Serena turned, shocked, to see her sister, Mina, sitting behind her desk with a big grin.

"M-Mina? Wh-What are you doing here?" she gasped. Mina stood and came around the desk.

"Well duh! I told you I was coming to visit," Mina replied, shaking her head and smiling.

"Yeah, but not until tomorrow," Serena reminded her. Mina simply shrugged.

"So I wanted to come and surprise my sis," she replied. "Sue me," she added. "Now, sit down and tell me all about this thing you're getting wrinkles over," Mina said, closing the door for some privacy.

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Ten minutes later, Mina was nodding in sympathy.

"Sweetie. What have I always told you?" she said when Serena had finished her story.

"That men are needier than we are," Serena recited and Mina nodded.

"Exactly. He was feeling insecure, as most men get when girls they like touch other men," Mina explained but Serena shook her head.

"No. He doesn't like me," she denied. "He's just looking for a booty call, and I'm the one he can't have," she added matter-of-factly. Mina sighed.

"Alright sweetie. You keep thinking that," she said, waving her hand nonchalantly. "Now, tell me about these other guys you work with. Any of them single?" she said, winking and smiling like a Cheshire cat and Serena couldn't help but laugh.

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As the working day drew to a close, Serena tucked a file into her handbag while Mina went to the bathroom to 'freshen up'. As much as they fought sometimes, Serena liked having Mina around. She made everyone laugh and smile, something that came naturally to her. She sometimes wished she was more like Mina. Already her sister's presence had made her day a good one.

"Ready to go?" Mina asked as she entered the office, flicking her long hair over her shoulder unconsciously. Serena nodded and together they left her office and Serena made sure to lock it afterwards.

"Ah, crap," Serena said, slapping her forehead. "I'd better tell Shields I'm going," she explained when Mina have her a quizzical look. "I'll be right back," Serena said, heading across the building to Darien's office. She went to knock on the door, but paused when she heard some….. interesting sounds coming from inside. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she turned and walked away as her good day turned sour fast.

"Well?" Mina asked when she reappeared.

"He's in a meeting," Serena said, barely managing to get the words out without clenching her teeth. "I won't bother him." With a shrug, Mina and Serena left the building and climbed into her car.

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Shortly after Serena and Mina left, Bella left Darien's office, rearranging her hair back into a bun as she did, leaving the dark haired man sitting behind his desk.

Well, so much for that idea. He'd wanted to forget about Serena by having some fun with Bella, and all he'd managed to do was remind himself of her even more. He'd have to beat himself stupid to forget her. Or get drunk. Whichever worked.

Grabbing his coat, he gathered his files and other things before leaving himself. Without a word to Bella.

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"Mina, stay here," Serena instructed, drawing her gun from its holster as she slowly approached her apartment door. That happened to be ajar and have a broken lock. Listening carefully, she could hear someone moving things in her apartment.

A burglar? Oooo she hoped not. Thanks to her 'good' day she was already sorely tempted to shoot someone. This burglar might end up being the unlucky one she did.

Counting to three in her head, she pushed her way into the apartment and trained her gun on the intruder.

"Freeze! Put your hands on your head!" she yelled, looking at the back of the man. He slowly put his hands on his head before turning around. Serena's desire to shoot someone doubled the instant she saw his face.

"Alan?" she said, slightly shocked and angry. "What the hell are you doing in my apartment?" she demanded a few moments later.

"Well, I know you didn't mean what you said the other night," Alan replied, shrugging a little and smiling. "I wanted to come and surprise you so you could apologize," he added.

"Apologize?" Serena echoed disbelievingly. "Apologize? Are you on something Alan?" she added. "When I said I wanted to break up, and when I kicked you out, I meant every word. Every….single…word," she said, extenuating every one of her last three words to prove her point. Alan's face fell.

"What? No, you love me!" he cried. "You said so yourself!" Serena shrugged.

"Guess I made a mistake," she replied, her gun still trained on her ex-boyfriend. "Now, I want you to leave my apartment now, and never show your face near me again. Okay?"

When Alan looked like he was going to refuse, she cocked her gun and he bit his lip.

"O-Okay," he said finally, defeated.

"Good. Now go," Serena said, gesturing to the door with her gun. Alan wasted no time in leaving the apartment, and the building, as fast as he could. Serena sighed and went back out to fetch Mina who was still waiting in the nearby hall.

Once Mina had deposited her bags and Serena had cleaned up the lamp Alan had broken in his 'surprise', Serena secured the door and sat down on the couch. With another sigh, she felt Mina join her.

"Tough day," she said and Serena could only nod. As if an overbearing, egotistical, 'pain in the ass' boss wasn't enough, she now had an ex-boyfriend breaking into her apartment.

Oh yes. It was great to be Serenity Parker.

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A/N: Wow. Sorry it took so long. Read, enjoy and don't forget to review.

PrincessSerene15